Wi-fi access in coffee shops is increasingly common

Regulator Ofcom wants to deliver broadband access to parts of the UK with no high-speed internet.

James Saunders, chief marketing officer of wi-fi firm The Cloud, said the plans could bring broadband to rural areas for the first time.

Limitations on the strength of wi-fi signals make it expensive to deploy such networks outside of urban areas.

Mr Saunders said: "We welcome the consultation from Ofcom.

"We think it could provide great opportunities in rural areas that are currently without broadband. It makes it much more possible to put up a wireless network."

Boosting power

Boosting the power of wi-fi signals would dramatically reduce the cost of bringing wireless networks to rural areas because fewer transmitters would be needed.

In the States you can broadcast signals 10 times the power that you can in the UK and Europe James Saunders, The Cloud Q&A: Wi-fi explained